The volleyball team won their first game against Fontbonne University on Feb. 13. The game came after months of practice and nearly a year since the last sporting event.
It’s been 335 days since the last played sporting event at Webster University, but sports are finally back.
After five months of practicing in small pods, split-up workout groups and scrimmaging with masks on, the women’s volleyball team won the first game back on Saturday against Fontbonne University.
“It can be rough after a while of practicing so much because you’re doing all this work and not being able to play,” senior volleyball player Hayley Taylor said.
The volleyball team practiced in small pods, consisting of five or six players who were around each other the most. If one person in the pod started to feel sick, that pod would have to quarantine rather than the whole team. One player noted this was a smart way to handle things.
For Taylor, she was preparing for her first game in two years due to an ankle injury that took her off the court her junior year.
“I’m super excited, but also nervous since it has been a while playing since,” Taylor said. “I’m still ready to give it all that I have for my last season and make it all worth it.”
Some teams were not so lucky and had their 2019-2020 season cut short due to COVID-19.
The Webster baseball team played just 13 games last year and was in Florida when the country started to shut down. However, seniors were offered an extra year of eligibility and every player but one took it.
During the summer, the baseball team did workouts independently provided by the strength and conditioning coach Matt Saitz. When the school year started, they split-up into different groups for practices and workouts. They were later allowed to scrimmage against themselves and get back into the groove.
Zach Goodman will take on the role of starting catcher this season after senior Joe Swanson decided not to come back.
”I am lucky enough to be the starting role as catcher and get the season going because we have a lot to prove this year,” Goodman said.
With weather canceling their scheduled season opener on Feb. 20, the team will play its first game Feb. 27.
“We have a lot of team chemistry and a ton of talent. We were pre-season ranked number one. Last year was an anomaly and we want to prove that we’re going to take it to everyone this year and make it back to the World Series and hopefully a National Championship,” Goodman said.
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Kelly Bowen
I am a journalism major. I play on the women’s soccer team at Webster. I enjoy coffee, Mexican food and watching The Real Housewives of Orange County with my sister.
